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French court has sentenced supermarket chain Carrefour to a fine of
3.66 million euro for paying 1200 employees a salary under the French
guaranteed minimum wage. Carrefour has announced they will appeal.
Gain: up to 45 euro per employee per month
The problem in this case is how the minimum wage should be
calculated – and more precisely: including or excluding a ‘rest
forfeit’. By ‘creatively’ calculating that minimum wage, Carrefour saved
up to 45 euro per month per employee, said the labour inspection.
The court ruled Carrefour’s calculations incorrect and imposed a fine of
2000 euro per infraction and a compensation of between 10,000 and
15,000 euro per union that filed complaints or between 300 and 1000 euro
per employee who complained individually.
“We will appeal this verdict”, said HR-director Jean-Luc Masset to RTL.
“Every employee receives a salary that is well above the minimum wage –
and on top of that, health insurance and a very beneficial collective
agreement.” He also points out that this verdict is about the very
essence of the collective agreement and as such, goes far beyond
Carrefour.
